Croydon edge closer to European qualification Croydon made the long journey north for this vital clash against Nottingham. Both teams were level on points but due to Nottingham's superior goal difference it was the hosts that were sitting in third place, and in the crucial European qualification spot. Many people had predicted Croydon were going to spend the season fighting relegation, so this match was seen by Croydon as a chance to prove their critics wrong. Croydon were again without two of their girls, Anna Jeanes and Kim Jones, so started the game with Lorna Elliott and Lynda Barker in attack alongside the experienced Dave Butters and Steve Jones. Saskia de Jaeker returned to the starting line up, and along with Sarah George, Ross Carr-Taylor and Ivan Aquino made up the defence. The game started off slowly but Croydon broke the deadlock with a penalty from Steve Jones. Nottingham then scored twice to take them into the lead, but a goal from Ivan Aquino brought the scores level and Nottingham never regained the lead. Croydon then took the lead and thanks to goals from Butters, Jones and Saskia de Jaeker were holding a three goal lead 15 minutes through the game. A time-out by Croydon appeared to work against them as Nottingham began to claw back into the game, leaving the half-time score 7-6 to the visitors. Half time brought a change to the Nottingham boys; James Trubridge came on for Richard Buttinger in an attempt to break down the Croydon defence. Croydon's division of George, de Jaeker, Carr-Taylor and Aquino had worked tirelessly in defence, preventing Nottingham's Dutch girls from dominating. The first goal went to Croydon, a spectacular half-way line goal from Jones, but after three minutes the scores were level. Croydon however kept their heads and continued to work hard, and once again managed to edge ahead to a three goal lead. With ten minutes remaining on the clock, Nottingham made another change as "Dutchie" Ester Trelouw was replaced by Emma Lancashire. However, this seemed to have little effect as the partnership of Jones and Butters ran riot in attack and Croydon ended the match two goals up with a 16-14 scoreline. Croydon will be pleased with the defensive pressure that they managed to maintain throughout the game, and now sit comfortably in third place. Both teams will be looking forward to the re-match in the Cup next weekend at Croydon, but Nottingham will be wondering how to break down the Croydon defence, particularly when they can expect to face a stronger female contingent.Match Report by Andy Final Score: Nottingham City 1 14 vs 16 Croydon 1S Jones (9)I Aquino (3)D Butters (1)R Carr-Taylor (1)S de Jager (1)S Withers (1)L Barker (0)L MacKay-Elliott (0)Submitted by Andy on 11 Jan 04Croydon 2 batter Nottingham This was another run-out for Croydon 2 as they left Nottingham without any doubt why they have been at the top of the table for the last few weeks. Croydon's starting line up was changed yet again, Anna Jeanes was drafted in from the firsts and "newbie" Leanna Burney made her first start for the seconds. This did not phase Croydon though, and they worked effectively as a unit throughout the game. After watching the 1st team narrowly beat Nottingham, the 2nds were in no mood to keep it so close. They quickly took a 4-0 lead courtesy of two Andy Withers goals, and a goal a piece from Paul Jeanes and Julia Johnson. Croydon started to relax and allowed Nottingham back into the game, and with the score lying at 4-6, Croydon missed two successive penalties. However, the culprits (!) did redeem themselves and Dan Moore scored a long shot and Paul Jeanes then converted his next penalty to regain the 4-goal gap. In the second half, goals rained in from around the Croydon team and as Nottingham's heads began to drop Croydon upped the tempo and crushed any hopes Nottingham had. From a score of 8-10, within 10 minutes, Nottingham were 8-16 down. A converted free-pass from Nottingham brought them closer to double figures, but Croydon scored the next two goals to run out the clock 18-9.Match Report by Andy Final Score: Nottingham City 2 9 vs 18 Croydon 2D Moore (4)A Withers (3)N Hudspith (2)P Jeanes (2)A Jeanes (3)J Johnson (3)A Furlano (1)L Burney (0)Submitted by Andy on 11 Jan 04Croydon 3 lose out to Nomads Croydon's 3rds lost 18-4 to Nomads 3. Playing against an experienced Nomads line-up, both Croydon divisions competed well, particularly in defence, but struggled to score goals and create more than just one-shot attacks. Croydon's line-up was Nick Collier, Dan Pratt, Tammy Kentfield (1), Suzanne Robinson, Ronald van der Bunt (2), Chris Etheridge (1), Judi Sloman and Beccy Pratt. Match Report by Andy Final Score: Nomads 3 18 vs 4 Croydon 3R van der Bunt (2)C Etheridge (1)N Collier (0)D Pratt (0)T Kentfield (1)S Robinson (0)B Sinclair (0)J Sloman (0)Submitted by Andy on 11 Jan 04Croydon 4 lose out to North Downs Croydon 4 lost 15-5 to a very strong North Downs 3 team, many of whom have been playing in the National League Premier Division in recent seasons. Croydon made a good start and surprised North Downs by going into a 4-2 lead. However North Downs' height, experience and shooting ability came to the fore. Had Steve Pratt been able to convert two second half penalties, the scoreline would have looked even more respectable. Croydon's line-up was Nick Collier (1), Chris Etheridge (1), Leah Palfreyman, Stephanie Robinson, Steve Pratt, Mike Etheridge, Sara Palfreyman (1), Janine Collier (1). Dan Pratt came on as a late substitute for Nick Collier and scored a long shot, using what can only be described as 'agricultural fling' technique. They all count though! Match Report by Andy Final Score: North Downs 2 15 vs 5 Croydon 4C Etheridge (1)M Etheridge (0)S Pratt (0)N Collier (1)D Pratt (1)J Collier (1)L Palfreyman (0)S Robinson (0)Submitted by Sarah on 12 Jan 04
Croydon 2 batter Nottingham This was another run-out for Croydon 2 as they left Nottingham without any doubt why they have been at the top of the table for the last few weeks. Croydon's starting line up was changed yet again, Anna Jeanes was drafted in from the firsts and "newbie" Leanna Burney made her first start for the seconds. This did not phase Croydon though, and they worked effectively as a unit throughout the game. After watching the 1st team narrowly beat Nottingham, the 2nds were in no mood to keep it so close. They quickly took a 4-0 lead courtesy of two Andy Withers goals, and a goal a piece from Paul Jeanes and Julia Johnson. Croydon started to relax and allowed Nottingham back into the game, and with the score lying at 4-6, Croydon missed two successive penalties. However, the culprits (!) did redeem themselves and Dan Moore scored a long shot and Paul Jeanes then converted his next penalty to regain the 4-goal gap. In the second half, goals rained in from around the Croydon team and as Nottingham's heads began to drop Croydon upped the tempo and crushed any hopes Nottingham had. From a score of 8-10, within 10 minutes, Nottingham were 8-16 down. A converted free-pass from Nottingham brought them closer to double figures, but Croydon scored the next two goals to run out the clock 18-9.Match Report by Andy Final Score: Nottingham City 2 9 vs 18 Croydon 2D Moore (4)A Withers (3)N Hudspith (2)P Jeanes (2)A Jeanes (3)J Johnson (3)A Furlano (1)L Burney (0)Submitted by Andy on 11 Jan 04Croydon 3 lose out to Nomads Croydon's 3rds lost 18-4 to Nomads 3. Playing against an experienced Nomads line-up, both Croydon divisions competed well, particularly in defence, but struggled to score goals and create more than just one-shot attacks. Croydon's line-up was Nick Collier, Dan Pratt, Tammy Kentfield (1), Suzanne Robinson, Ronald van der Bunt (2), Chris Etheridge (1), Judi Sloman and Beccy Pratt. Match Report by Andy Final Score: Nomads 3 18 vs 4 Croydon 3R van der Bunt (2)C Etheridge (1)N Collier (0)D Pratt (0)T Kentfield (1)S Robinson (0)B Sinclair (0)J Sloman (0)Submitted by Andy on 11 Jan 04Croydon 4 lose out to North Downs Croydon 4 lost 15-5 to a very strong North Downs 3 team, many of whom have been playing in the National League Premier Division in recent seasons. Croydon made a good start and surprised North Downs by going into a 4-2 lead. However North Downs' height, experience and shooting ability came to the fore. Had Steve Pratt been able to convert two second half penalties, the scoreline would have looked even more respectable. Croydon's line-up was Nick Collier (1), Chris Etheridge (1), Leah Palfreyman, Stephanie Robinson, Steve Pratt, Mike Etheridge, Sara Palfreyman (1), Janine Collier (1). Dan Pratt came on as a late substitute for Nick Collier and scored a long shot, using what can only be described as 'agricultural fling' technique. They all count though! Match Report by Andy Final Score: North Downs 2 15 vs 5 Croydon 4C Etheridge (1)M Etheridge (0)S Pratt (0)N Collier (1)D Pratt (1)J Collier (1)L Palfreyman (0)S Robinson (0)Submitted by Sarah on 12 Jan 04
Croydon 3 lose out to Nomads Croydon's 3rds lost 18-4 to Nomads 3. Playing against an experienced Nomads line-up, both Croydon divisions competed well, particularly in defence, but struggled to score goals and create more than just one-shot attacks. Croydon's line-up was Nick Collier, Dan Pratt, Tammy Kentfield (1), Suzanne Robinson, Ronald van der Bunt (2), Chris Etheridge (1), Judi Sloman and Beccy Pratt. Match Report by Andy Final Score: Nomads 3 18 vs 4 Croydon 3R van der Bunt (2)C Etheridge (1)N Collier (0)D Pratt (0)T Kentfield (1)S Robinson (0)B Sinclair (0)J Sloman (0)Submitted by Andy on 11 Jan 04Croydon 4 lose out to North Downs Croydon 4 lost 15-5 to a very strong North Downs 3 team, many of whom have been playing in the National League Premier Division in recent seasons. Croydon made a good start and surprised North Downs by going into a 4-2 lead. However North Downs' height, experience and shooting ability came to the fore. Had Steve Pratt been able to convert two second half penalties, the scoreline would have looked even more respectable. Croydon's line-up was Nick Collier (1), Chris Etheridge (1), Leah Palfreyman, Stephanie Robinson, Steve Pratt, Mike Etheridge, Sara Palfreyman (1), Janine Collier (1). Dan Pratt came on as a late substitute for Nick Collier and scored a long shot, using what can only be described as 'agricultural fling' technique. They all count though! Match Report by Andy Final Score: North Downs 2 15 vs 5 Croydon 4C Etheridge (1)M Etheridge (0)S Pratt (0)N Collier (1)D Pratt (1)J Collier (1)L Palfreyman (0)S Robinson (0)Submitted by Sarah on 12 Jan 04
Croydon 4 lose out to North Downs Croydon 4 lost 15-5 to a very strong North Downs 3 team, many of whom have been playing in the National League Premier Division in recent seasons. Croydon made a good start and surprised North Downs by going into a 4-2 lead. However North Downs' height, experience and shooting ability came to the fore. Had Steve Pratt been able to convert two second half penalties, the scoreline would have looked even more respectable. Croydon's line-up was Nick Collier (1), Chris Etheridge (1), Leah Palfreyman, Stephanie Robinson, Steve Pratt, Mike Etheridge, Sara Palfreyman (1), Janine Collier (1). Dan Pratt came on as a late substitute for Nick Collier and scored a long shot, using what can only be described as 'agricultural fling' technique. They all count though! Match Report by Andy Final Score: North Downs 2 15 vs 5 Croydon 4C Etheridge (1)M Etheridge (0)S Pratt (0)N Collier (1)D Pratt (1)J Collier (1)L Palfreyman (0)S Robinson (0)Submitted by Sarah on 12 Jan 04
